Broome County Solar Farm to Go On-Line Soon

A large solar farm in the town of Conklin may become operational within the next several weeks - almost a year later than originally expected.

When the $4 million project was announced by then-county executive Debra Preston, the plan was for the facility to go on-line by spring of last year.

Actual construction on the solar farm on the 20-acre site near the Broome Corporate Park south of Powers Road was completed around the end of last summer.

County executive Jason Garnar Thursday said it is going to be on-line "very soon." He said that could happen "probably within the next month or two."

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Garnar said the county has been working with NYSEG and SolarCity to finalize a rate agreement. Energy produced by the solar farm will be sold to NYSEG.

SolarCity partnered with the county to build the solar systems. The company owns the solar farm, which it is to maintain.

Garnar said when the project was announced, there was a promise it would "save the county a lot of money every year." In reality, he said, the county may not actually see any net savings as a result of the solar farm.

County public works commissioner Leslie Boulton said a connection to NYSEG's system still must be completed. She said the utility installed some poles to link the solar farm to the grid.

SolarCity project director Dan Leary could not be reached Thursday to discuss the rate agreement that's been reached with NYSEG.

Equipment at the recently-constructed solar farm in the town of Conklin on February 1, 2018. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The solar systems are on a 20-acre site south of Powers Road. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)